Anas laysanensis
The Laysan Duck, a diminutive and highly unique dabbling duck, is a testament to conservation success. Measuring about 38-43 cm (15-17 in) in length with a wingspan of roughly 66 cm (26 in) and weighing 350-500 g (12-18 oz), its plumage is predominantly dark brown, subtly mottled with lighter feather edges, creating a somewhat scaly appearance. A striking white eye-ring, often extending into a faint stripe behind the eye, is its most distinctive field mark, contrasting sharply with its dark h...
Primarily found in low-lying coastal wetlands, including hypersaline lagoons, freshwater ponds, and brackish marshes, typically at or near sea level.
Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, particularly brine fly larvae and adults, along with seeds, algae, and other aquatic plant material, primarily obtained through filter feeding and dabbling.
Laysan Ducks are largely crepuscular and nocturnal foragers, especially when feeding on brine flies, though they can be observed dabbling and gleaning during daylight hours, often resting in dense vegetation during peak sun. Foraging involves surface skimming, head-dipping, and dabbling in shallo...
Historically, the Laysan Duck was endemic solely to Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Its range drastically contracted due to habitat degradation by introduced rabbits, leading to its near extinction. Following intensive conservation efforts, including rabbit eradication, the po...
Endangered
- Once numbering only 11 individuals in 1912, the Laysan Duck represents one of the most dramatic avian recoveries in conservation history. - It is the only native Hawaiian duck that is considered a full species, not a subspecies of another duck. - These ducks are largely nocturnal foragers, part...